Criminal Court “A” has sentenced seven members of a human trafficking syndicate to 50 years in prison each for running a fake Canada employment recruitment scheme that allegedly deceived and exploited dozens of Liberians.
The sentence was handed down on Friday, July 10, 2026, by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie after a trial jury earlier returned unanimous guilty verdicts against the defendants.
The court found that the group used Infinitive Millennials Star Platinum Limitless, Inc., operating as Q-Net, as a cover to lure victims with false promises of overseas employment opportunities and a better future in Canada.
According to prosecutors, the scheme targeted at least 57 people from Nimba, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Bomi, Lofa and other counties. Victims reportedly paid between US$950 and US$4,500 each as recruitment and processing fees, but were never taken abroad as promised.
Instead, prosecutors said the victims were transported to a fenced compound in Gbangba Town along the Robertsfield Highway, where they were held against their will and subjected to various forms of abuse.
During the trial, survivors testified that their phones were taken from them and they were forced to contact family members to send additional money. Those who failed to meet the demands were allegedly punished through exposure to harsh sunlight, forced intake of excessive amounts of water, denial of food, verbal harassment and physical labor.
Some female survivors also testified that they were repeatedly sexually abused by convicted ringleaders Bill Plato and Wuo Zegarsco Garteh.
The defense argued that the case was only a disagreement involving a legitimate network marketing business and claimed the defendants could not be convicted of human trafficking because the victims never left Liberia.
Judge Willie rejected the argument, stating that Liberia’s Trafficking in Persons Act of 2021 does not require victims to be taken across national borders for an offense to qualify as human trafficking. He ruled that recruitment, harboring or exploitation through deception, fraud or coercion is sufficient under the law.
Those sentenced to 50 years imprisonment include Wuo Zegarsco Garteh, Daylue Kargo, Rudolph S. Flomo, Bill Plato, Stanley Wonanbaye, Jerome Genseh and Alexander Plato.
The court also ordered each of the seven convicts to pay a US$10,000 fine and directed them to provide a combined US$90,000 in restitution to the victims.
Three other defendants — Maxi Wonanbaye, Marthaline Y. Tompia and Preston Godfrey — who pleaded guilty during the proceedings, received 20-year prison sentences each. They were also fined US$500 and ordered to pay US$10,000 each in restitution.
Following the ruling, defense lawyers announced plans to appeal the convictions and sentences before the Supreme Court of Liberia. Judge Willie acknowledged the appeal, noting that it is a constitutional right available to convicted persons under Liberian law.
The convicted individuals have since been transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison, where they will remain while awaiting further court proceedings.
The ruling marks one of the most severe punishments issued under Liberia’s anti-human trafficking law and serves as a warning against fraudulent overseas employment schemes targeting job seekers.
